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Dog nearly dies after eating slug pellet
SAM EMANUEL

Last updated: 14/08/2010 09:00:00


Ray Noble with Kess
A Norfolk dog-owner is warning people with pets to beware after his dog nearly died when she ate “pet-friendly” slug pellets.

Ray Noble, 64, from Stoke Holy Cross, was shocked to find his beloved black Labrador Kess collapsing and drooling heavily in his garden.

The retired father-of-two and grandfather-of-three, who lives with his 61-year-old wife Jeanne, rushed the dog to the Chapelfield veterinary surgery in Long Stratton, where staff made the dog sick, pumped her stomach, lined it with charcoal and put her on various drips.

Mr Noble said: “She had gone into the garden at about 6pm.

“I got home about 10 minutes later and she was in a terrible state.

“She was panting very heavily even though she hadn't been running, and was foaming at the mouth and drooling heavily.

“She was shaking a lot and couldn't stand up, and thought she looked like she had been poisoned. I called the vets immediately and took her there, even though it was out of hours.

“I got a call at 10pm saying they had done all they could and it was now down to the dog, and that they would phone me if anything changed. I didn't sleep all night, and at 9am the following morning they called me to ask if I wanted to pick her up, which was such a massive relief.

“I spend so much time with her she is like another child.

“If I hadn't got her to the vets as quickly she would have died, there is no doubt about that.

“I know some people might have been tempted to wait until the next day, because it was out of hours, but if anyone has any doubts they should get their dog to the vets immediately.”

The slug pellets the dog had eaten contained a chemical called metaldehyde, which can be fatal if eaten by dogs or other animals.

There is no antidote, and vets can only pump the animal's stomach to ensure ingestion is minimised.

Brands that are marked pet-friendly still contain the chemical, but they also have a cat and dog repellent included in the formula.